Bengaluru: Little over week has passed since the Karnataka State Cricket Association finally decided to honour its legends and name stands after them, and the decision, though welcomed, has already caused some furore in the fraternity.
Some quarters have insisted that more cricketers -- male and female -- should receive the same honour, and while that argument is valid, it’s hard to establish an endpoint to this exercise.
As it stands, EAS Prasanna, GR Vishwanath, BS Chandrasekhar, Syed Kirmani, Brijesh Patel, Roger Binny, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad will have stands named after them, as detailed in KSCA’s annual report.
“The Managing Committee has expressed its deep appreciation for the unparalleled contributions of Karnataka’s cricketing stalwarts who have brought laurels to Indian cricket both on and off the field,” the report read.
“The Managing Committee recognizing the valuable suggestions from life members, institutional members, cricketing fraternity, general public, distinguished personalities and the government, has decided to honour these legends by renaming specific stands in the stadium. Their contribution as cricketers and administrators has left an indelible impression in the growth of our Association.
“This initiative acknowledges their immense contributions at the State, national, and international levels and aims to inspire future generations of cricketers.”
While P1 will be named after Prasanna, the diamond box will be labelled the Anil Kumble Box, and the N Stand will wear Dravid’s name.
“I don’t quite know why it took the KSCA so long,” Prasanna told DH. “… but this is one of the finest associations in the country and they know what they’re doing. I am very proud of the KSCA for the work they have done. Also, this trend to name stands after players is a modern trend. At this stage, we should appreciate the magnanimity of the association.”
“Moreover, it’s such a tough job because Karnataka has produced so many world-class cricketers. I am honoured to be on this list,” he added.
Surely, there will be plenty of disgruntled parties in the aftermath of this decision, but that doesn’t change the fact that those who have the stands named after them deserve it, and how.
STANDS
P1 Stand: Erapalli Prasanna Stand
P2 Stand: GR Vishwanath Stand
P Terrace: BS Chandrashekar Stand
P Corporate: Syed Kirmani Stand
M1 Stand: Brijesh Patel Stand
M2 Stand: Roger Binny Stand
Diamond Box: Anil Kumble Diamond Box
N Stand: Rahul Dravid Stand
P1A Stand: Javagal Srinath Stand
P4 Stand: Venkatesh Prasad Stand